[07/25/06 - 12:00 AM]'Miss Universe,' 'America's Got Talent' and 'Last Comic Standing' Are Among the Standouts of NBC's Week of July 17-23

[via press release from NBC]

'MISS UNIVERSE,' 'AMERICA'S GOT TALENT' AND 'LAST COMIC STANDING' ARE AMONG THE STANDOUTS OF NBC'S WEEK OF JULY 17-23

BURBANK, Calif. -� July 25, 2006 -� Paced by strong performances from "Last Comic Standing" on Tuesday, "America's Got Talent" on Wednesday and "Miss Universe Pageant 2006" on Sunday, NBC ranked #2 for the week in the key demographic of adults 18-49 (tied with CBS) and #2 in total viewers. NBC averaged a 2.1 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 6.3 million viewers overall for the week of July 17-23, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

NBC had three of the top 10 programs of the week in adults 18-49 � "Last Comic Standing" was #5 (tie), "Miss Universe Pageant 2006" ranked #5 (tie) and Wednesday's "America's Got Talent" ranked #7 out of a total 112 programs. In overall total viewers, NBC had two of the top five shows of the week: "America's Got Talent" was #2 and "Miss Universe Pageant 2006" ranked #3.

Since the end of the traditional broadcast season, NBC is running #2 in adults 18-49, with a 2.1 rating versus Fox's 2.4, CBS' 2.0 and ABC's 1.9 (May 25-July 23, 2006).

The top-rated original summer series introduced so far are NBC's "America's Got Talent" and Fox's Thursday edition of "So You Think You Can Dance" (both a 3.8 in 18-49) and NBC's "Last Comic Standing" and Fox's Wednesday edition of "So You Think You Can Dance" (both a 3.7 in 18-49).

NBC highlights for the week of July 17-23:

* On Sunday, NBC's telecast of "Miss Universe Pageant 2006" was the top-rated and most-watched telecast of the night by all key measures, including adults 18-49 and total viewers. "Miss Universe Pageant 2006" was the #5-ranked program of the week in adults 18-49 (tie) and the #3 show of the week in total viewers.

* NBC won Sunday night in adults 18-49 and in total viewers. This marks NBC's second Sunday win among adults 18-49 in the last three weeks and in total viewers, it is the network's third consecutive Sunday victory.

* On Tuesday, "Last Comic Standing" was the #1 program of the night on any network in adults 18-49. "Last Comic" was up 68 percent in adults 18-49 versus NBC's average in the time period last summer. "Last Comic" was the #5-ranked program of the week in the key demographic of adults 18-49 (tied with "Miss Universe")

* On Wednesday, "America's Got Talent" was up 48 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's average in this Wednesday time period last summer. From its first half-hour to its last, "Talent" grew by 73 percent in 18-49 rating and by more than 4.2 million viewers overall. "America's Got Talent" was the #2-ranked program of the week in total viewers and ranked #7 this week in adults 18-49 (tie).

* On Thursday, the one-hour "America's Got Talent" results show was up 24 percent in both adults 18-49 and in total viewers versus its week-earlier numbers as a half-hour telecast. The "America's Got Talent" results show made its first appearance in the weekly top 20 this week, ranking #14 out of a total 112 programs in both adults 18-49 and total viewers.

* On Friday, both "Dateline NBC" and "Las Vegas" ranked #1 in their respective time periods in adults 18-49. "Dateline" reported its highest 18-49 rating and overall viewership for a Friday edition since June 9, and "Las Vegas" hit its highest 18-49 rating of the summer.

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of live only results through Dec. 25 and "live plus seven day" data since then, except for the two most recent weeks, which are live plus same day.

Additional NBC highlights for the week of July 17-23:

On Monday, July 17 at 9 p.m. ET, "Treasure Hunters" averaged a 1.9 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 4.8 million viewers overall. "Treasure Hunters" built by 27 percent in 18-49 rating versus its lead-in � a 1.5/5 in 18-49 and 3.6 million viewers overall for a special repurposed episode of Bravo's "Project Runway" from 8-9 p.m.

On Tuesday, July 18 at 9 p.m. ET, "Last Comic Standing" (3.2/9 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall) was the #1 program of the night on any network in adults 18-49. "Last Comic" increased 68 percent in adults 18-49 versus its lead-in � a 1.9/9 in 18-49 and 5.2 million viewers overall for "Fear Factor" from 8-9 p.m.

"Last Comic" was up 68 percent in adult 18-49 rating versus NBC's average in this time period last summer (3.2 vs. 1.9).

Also on Tuesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.3/7 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 in adults 18-34, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

On Wednesday, July 19 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "America's Got Talent" (3.1/10 in adults 18-49, 9.9 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in its time period in adults 18-49 and #1 in total viewers and other key measures. "America's Got Talent" was up 48 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's average in the time period last summer (3.1 vs. 2.1).

From its first half-hour to its last, "Talent" increased its 18-49 rating by 73 percent (to a 3.8/11 from a 2.2/8) and its overall audience by more than 4.2 million viewers. In 18-49 rating it closed the gap with Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" from a 36 percent advantage for the Fox show in the 8-8:30 p.m. ET half hour (2.2 vs. 3.0) to a tie for first place in the 9:30-10 p.m. half-hour (with both shows at a 3.8).

On Thursday, July 20 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore "My Name is Earl" (2.1/8 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall) was up 17 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week and ranked #2 in the time period among adults 18-49 and #1 in all key adult male demos. At 8:30 p.m., an encore telecast of "The Office" averaged a 1.8/6 in 18-49 and 4.4 million viewers overall.

Thursday from 9-10 p.m. ET, the "America's Got Talent" results show (2.6/8 in 18-49, 7.9 million viewers overall) was up 24 percent in both 18-49 and in total viewers versus its week earlier results as a half-hour telecast. It built by 44 percent in 18-49 rating on its lead in. It ranked #1 in its slot among men 18-49 (tied) and men 25-54. At 10 p.m., "Windfall" averaged a 2.0/6 in 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers overall. "Windfall" was #1 (tied) in its slot among women 18-34.

On Friday, July 21 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.7/7 in 18-49, 6.0 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and other key measures. "Dateline" reported its highest 18-49 rating and total viewership for a Friday edition since June 9.

Friday at 9 p.m. ET, an encore "Las Vegas" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 4.7 million viewers overall) was #1 in the time period in adults 18-49 with its highest 18-49 rating and overall total viewership so far this summer. At 10 p.m., a "Law & Order" rebroadcast (1.7/6 in 18-49, 5.7 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in adults 18-34 (tied) and women 18-34.

NBC was tied for #1 in adults 18-49 on Friday. This marks the 16th time this broadcast year, NBC has finished #1 or tied for #1 in the 18-49 demo on Friday night.

On Saturday, July 22, from 8-11 p.m. ET, the special "Miami Vice: Undercover" averaged a 1.2/5 in 18-49 and 4.0 million viewers overall. NBC was tied for #2 for the night in 18-49.

On Sunday, July 23, NBC ranked #1 in adults 18-49 and in total viewers. In adults 18-49, this was NBC's second Sunday win in the last three weeks and in total viewers it was the network's third consecutive Sunday victory.

On Sunday from 9-11 p.m. ET, NBC's telecast of "Miss Universe Pageant 2006" (3.2/9 in 18-49, 9.6 million viewers overall) was the top-rated and most-watched telecast of the night, ranking #1 in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures. From its first half-hour to its last, "Miss Universe" grew in 18-49 rating by 36 percent (to a 3.6/10 from a 2.6/7) and in total viewers by nearly 3.0 million viewers (to 11.0 million from 8.1 million).

Despite lower viewing levels in summer, this year's Miss Universe telecast matched the 18-49 rating of last year's telecast (a 3.2 on May 30, 2005) and was up 5 percent in overall total viewers (9.645 million vs. 9.187 million last year).

On Sunday, July 23 from 7-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.8/6 in 18-49 and 6.9 million viewers overall. "Dateline" grew by 85 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 2.4/7 from a 1.3/5) and by 3.2 million viewers (to 8.7 million from 5.5 million) from its first half-hour to its last.